The entrance into Leonardo da Vinci’s workshop & your entry into his world of wonder!

About this creation

So, with a smile on my face, I present my entry for Round 2 in the Category-Eureka! for the 2013 MocOlympics. It is based on a theory that Leonardo da Vinci projected Lisa’s image onto a screen/canvas using a camera obscura, traced the image (some even propose he used photo-sensitive washes making a crude ‘photograph’), and then used his multi-layered glaze/oil paint technique to complete an earlier version of the famous masterpiece. The Mona Lisa that hangs in the Louvre is painted on poplar wood not canvas, if you are interested in learning about the physical testing done to confirm this earlier portrait painted on canvas, go to this LINK and check it out!

Now, Lisa’s fussing & fidgeting was making it difficult for Leonardo to capture a smile!

Impertinent girl! Was she not aware of all his technical experimentation, studies, and preparations for painting her portrait? We would expect no less from such a multi-talented man! For many months… years even… preceding this sitting, Leonardo had been involved in anatomical dissections and analyses of cadavers’ heads, faces, and eyes with their associated musculature, experimentation with a multi-layer oil/glaze paint technique using his own secret color formulas, and perhaps even… alchemical studies with photo-sensitive chemical washes for the camera’s projection screen/canvas and perhaps the poplar wood?!

Leonardo's Wonderous Workshop!

And, known only to fellow Illuminati, da Vinci’s secret engineering of a…

Hinge-operated, wall-mounted Smilerator!
Perhaps this contraption allowed him to take measurements to obtain his famous circular arch lengths found in so many of his works? Many claim these are related to sacred geometry!

What’s this, West wall witches peddling herbals and nostrums?
Perhaps they have something that can relax the fair Lisa?

Looks like Leonardo and his assistant are exasperated with the lady!
Will they plan some scheme to soothe her impatience?
Wait… Could that pooch be a Great Pyrenees known for its rescuing abilities?

Because back inside the workshop Lisa is fussing and still not smiling!
Alas… all may be doomed!

And they accuse artists of being temperamental! What about their models?

Yet wait…
The friendly pooch and those flowers may have tempered the lady and made her…

Smile! EUREKA… All is well and peaceful in Leonardo’s world of wonders!

4th wall:
#1 I tried to give the workshop a feeling of chaotic order in which, I think, would be the atmosphere the multi-faceted Leonardo, would work on many projects at the same time. #2 I also tried to give the atmosphere a sense of magic, as I am sure all inventors during this time period where thought of as being wizards! I recall reading about the Scottish mathematician, John Napier, who invented logarithms and "Napier's bones" living and working isolated in his ancestral castle. The common folk of the times did not understand what he was doing and thought his strange behavior was that of a madman or wizard!#3 Of course, I added my touch of color, because da Vinci was a painter and would have appreciated it!#4 Finally, I must tell you the truth. The Smilerator is a fictional device, but certainly something da Vinci could have made… right?! :)

Quoting Delatron 3000
Colour, whimsy, chaos, humour - i can find so much to enjoy in this it's a real shame you arn't moving onwards in the contest. Tough luck, but nonetheless an enjoyable build.

Oh well, I was all reved up and inspired for building. I really seemed to be on a creative high with all kinds of brick ideas and now... total blah! Anyhoo, thanks for taking the time to write a lovely comment! :)

Quoting David Alexander Smith
This one was the hardest for me to judge yet, both you and Justin are builders I follow and without exception provide me with builds I enjoy. The difficulty is your styles are so far apart, finding common ground was a challenge. I think people underestimate your style because it never aims at the sort realism or model making skills common to many builders; humour, eccentric colour mix, inspired piece selection, and normally a clever subtext are what makes a Topsy build tick. Anyway this is a long-winded way of saying I made a choice in the end based on how far you and Justin had pushed your individual styles, and I came to the conclusion your build inched it by the smallest margins.

Well, naturally I think you made the right choice, if that helps... hee, hee! And you are correct, I did push myself with this, and I had a lot of fun building it and following thru with my idea. And yet, I wonder if it was the original idea that led me away from a chance at the win? Will never know... on with building. :)

Quoting Mr. Xenomurphy
This is also a tough choice. Both entries are clever, funny and match the category. I have to go with building techniques, therefore my vote goes to Justin. Sorry, Topsy. Notwithstanding the above, I like that your entry looks a bit like an early Harry Potter set. Good luck with the other judges, Topsy.

Funny you should mention HP as I never was a follower of that LEGO line, although I did use the door and windows from one of my daughter's sets. I don't think that I even had HP in my mind when I built? But, we all see different things in builds and that is what is cool about any kind of art. I know I can say this to you and you will take it kindly... What I DID have in my mind was winning this round! Cheers! And thanks for the time you are taking from real life to judge! :)

Quoting Stuart Lucas
Another build absolutely full of fun - I love the chaotic order you managed to create in the workshop. Too bad you didn't progress but well done anyway, this is a MOC to be proud of!

Thanks, for the kind words. And, again congrats on your advancement to round 3! :)

Quoting cyberfrank 2010
lol, I agree! you make me regret not buying more hippies, it s hair looks great on girls, my fav part is the bush and mushrooms, quite an intricate and colorful piece Topsy! I miss Dandy almost everyday! [late dog]

The hippie is a fun fig. Funny,I acquired mine by accident. The person I bought some items from mixed my package up with someone else's! I liked the hippie & since she had more she let me keep it! I don't know tho, after this fiasco in round 2, perhaps I should have sent it back! ;/ Anyhoo, yes... our pets certainly leave their mark in our hearts! :)

This one was the hardest for me to judge yet, both you and Justin are builders I follow and without exception provide me with builds I enjoy. The difficulty is your styles are so far apart, finding common ground was a challenge. I think people underestimate your style because it never aims at the sort realism or model making skills common to many builders; humour, eccentric colour mix, inspired piece selection, and normally a clever subtext are what makes a Topsy build tick. Anyway this is a long-winded way of saying I made a choice in the end based on how far you and Justin had pushed your individual styles, and I came to the conclusion your build inched it by the smallest margins.

lol, I agree! you make me regret not buying more hippies, it s hair looks great on girls, my fav part is the bush and mushrooms, quite an intricate and colorful piece Topsy! I miss Dandy almost everyday! [late dog]

This is also a tough choice. Both entries are clever, funny and match the category. I have to go with building techniques, therefore my vote goes to Justin. Sorry, Topsy. Notwithstanding the above, I like that your entry looks a bit like an early Harry Potter set. Good luck with the other judges, Topsy.

Quoting El Barto !
It was like watching an episode on the History Channel! Minus that guy with the whacky hair. Great looking set here, Topsy, and good luck with the judges!

Yes, why is there always a guy with whacky hair?! Perhaps, you should add him to BSG or Ludgonious could have Doog interview him! But wait... you've just introduced a 'guy' with a really whacky head! Thanks Bart! :)

Quoting Josh Walter
Topsy, once again your color pallet astounds, and your build amazes! Great stuff here...I even learned a few things :)

Josh, after your own entry to round 1, you can't hide behind that grey in your 2nd! Hee, hee! I actually tried to comment on it already! But it got lost (and not in moderation). I have to return to try again! I'll be there! I haven't forgotten! :)

Quoting Tom Remy
Your Merlin-ish Leonardo is great. I wish I knew how to mix colors so well... The smilerator is excellent! Good luck to you!

But Tom, you have a lovely color sense. It shows in all your moc's! As for myself, I worked for some time in dental polymers and developed a sense of color shading in that work! Also, some analytical tests in chemistry are based on color intensity/wavelenghts, and my work in that area also has helped me along. :)

I do like to work in color! I am also very interested in and read alot about the history of science, math, and engineering; that ususally shows up in some form in my builds! Thanks for the lovely comment! :)

Thanks! I began the build with no red, only the dark red in the ground on the entry side. But I got the idea to use the dragon horse head armor and only had red ones, although I have all the technic parts I used in many colors. So I had to figure out a way to add little bits of red throughout the build to complement the red in the door overhead! I am trying to stick to my original plan of working with pieces I alredy have! :)

Quoting David Roberts
The "smilerator" is great fun and I love the extra pink bits. I can just imagine Leonardo climbing the ladder and moving the smile and asking La Gioconda to copy it. Perhaps that's why her smile is so enigmatic? The background information and speculations were fascinating.

Thanks David! In my view of LEGO building there is always room for some pink bits! Yes, I find all the theories and speculation fascinating too! Now, I just hope the judges think so tooooo! :)

The "smilerator" is great fun and I love the extra pink bits. I can just imagine Leonardo climbing the ladder and moving the smile and asking La Gioconda to copy it. Perhaps that's why her smile is so enigmatic? The background information and speculations were fascinating.

Quoting matt rowntRee
No less than pure Topsy! Excellent detail and fantastic color, brings a smile to my face. ;) Love the ordered chaos. Francis Bacon said, "Chaos breeds images", he was right. This is truly flavorful fun! And, of course, dogs always make smiles happen, it's what they do best. Good luck to you!

Thanks, Matt! Ah, the great Francis Bacon, you quote him well. I suppose the dog aspect in this is due to the recent deaths of our aging pets. I do not have a dog right now, and although I am enjoying not having that responsibility, I miss having one! They do make one smile! :)

Quoting clayton Marchetti
Fascinating build. very colorful, in the topsy style! I feel like I'm witnessing the actual painting of the Mona Lisa as it happened. Most impressive!

Thanks, Clayton! I have absolutely no idea why or how doing a moc with Leonardo came into my mind?! It's not that I have read/seen something recently on him. I have been interested in him and read/seen stuff about him in the past though... perhaps it made more of an impression on me than I realized!? :)

No less than pure Topsy! Excellent detail and fantastic color, brings a smile to my face. ;) Love the ordered chaos. Francis Bacon said, "Chaos breeds images", he was right. This is truly flavorful fun! And, of course, dogs always make smiles happen, it's what they do best. Good luck to you!